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DANIA BEACH, Fla. - A 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe Z71 SUV is the featured item up for bid in the International Game Fish Association's 21st Annual International Auction and Banquet at The Breakers, in Palm Beach, Fla., Jan. 28, organizers reported in a recent release.
The premier fundraising event for the nonprofit, worldwide, membership-supported conservation, rule-making and record-keeping organization will feature 52 live auction items plus well over 225 silent auction items.
For the fourth year, an online auction of a continuously growing list of nearly 300 items is now underway at the IGFA's Web site, www.igfa.org. The extensive list of items up for bid includes:
- Original and limited edition artwork and sculptures by artists Carey Chen, Guy Harvey, James Harris, Don Ray, Bodo Muche, Dave Baroncelli, Adrian Gray and many others.
- Entries into tournaments worldwide, many of them 2006 Rolex/IGFA Inshore and Offshore Championship qualifying events.
- International and domestic charters, many including lodging.
- Cruises and vacation packages to resorts, hotels and lodges worldwide.
- Game fish trophy mounts, rods, reels, tackle, fishing equipment, gold and diamond jewelry, books, clothing and more.
“We are adding even more unique and quality items almost daily, so bidders are encouraged to check the IGFA Web site often,” said Mike Myatt, director of marketing.
The item expected to receive the highest bidding is the Chevy Tahoe SUV. Chevrolet is the newest platinum sponsor of the 66-year old IGFA.
“Since we started featuring the auction on the IGFA Web site, online bidders have won 25 percent of the items,” said Lesley Arico, special projects coordinator. “But it's better to be there live for all of the many activities throughout the evening.”
Advance tickets for the evening are $175 each and open to the public. For additional details, contact Arico at the IGFA at 954-924-4222 or email at firstname.lastname@example.org.
- For more of the latest news, click here.


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EIT Digital showcases European deep tech innovations and global growth strategies at Web Summit 2023
EIT Digital is pleased to announce its participation at the 2023 Web Summit in Lisbon from November 13-16. In collaboration with the European Innovation Council (EIC), EIT Digital will highlight Europe’s leadership in deep tech leadership in deep tech in the “Building deep tech unicorns” dedicated content session that will take place on Wednesday, November 15th at 3 pm, at the EIC-EIB Web Summit’s booth (E223, Pavillion 2).
“Europe is home to some of the most innovative startups finding solutions to worldwide challenges,” said EIT Digital CEO Federico Menna. “At Web Summit, we look forward to showcasing these pioneers and equipping them with strategies to expand globally.”
EIT Digital and EIC have expanded their successful partnership started in 2022 through the EIC-EIT Digital Venture Acceleration Programme. This programme provides EIC Accelerator companies and Seal of Excellence recipients access to EIT Digital’s intensive 12-month Growth Services Programme. Offering training, guidance, connections, and fundraising support, this world-class programme helps scale deep tech companies.
The programme has already shown results, with participants raising major funding rounds. Climate tech startup Mitiga secured €13.5 million in Series A financing in June 2022 after EIT Digital assisted with targeting climate-focused investors. Smart waste management company Sensoneo also raised €6.2 million Series A after EIT Digital’s pitch and investor connection support.
The collaboration is set to evolve significantly this year. Under the umbrella of the EIC Ecosystem Partnerships and Co-Investment Support programme, beneficiaries of EIC programmes will now have extended access to EIT Digital’s latest service offerings.
These include ‘Access to Talent,’ focused on talent acquisition and development; ‘Access to Finance‘, offering comprehensive fundraising support; ‘US Landing Program,’ aimed at facilitating entry into the competitive U.S. market; and ‘Speed Master,’ an advanced coaching service, alongside other EIT Digital core ecosystem services.
“We are proud to expand our work with EIC to bolster Europe’s most innovative deep tech companies,” said Menna. “Together, we can provide startups the comprehensive support they need to scale up globally.”
In addition to the partnership, Menna will also take part in a panel on strategies for globalized growth.
Discussing in the “Globalise your Growth” panel with other high-profile panelists such as Hanna Marie Asmussen Co-Founder & CEO of Localyze; Pedro Ribeira Santos, partner of Armilar Venture Partners and Sifted’s senior CEE correspondent Zosia Wanat, he will share proven tactics for startups to expand worldwide, delving into essential topics that concern growing startups, such as best practices for international marketing, tactics for establishing operations abroad, cultural adaptability skills, and strategies for building efficient cross-border teams.

domain: news


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Designercon this year was bittersweet as this was the last year in So Cal. Next year they will be moving to Las Vegas. This year the show was smaller than previous years since the show was pushed back to December when it's usually in November.
There was still a good turn out of exhibitors and attendees throughout the 3-day show. Friday night was VIP night. VIP ticket holders got the night for themselves to scoop up those exclusives and releases before the general attendees. There were a lot of international artists and companies in attendance this year. Medicom had a large booth and presence.
There were a lot of exclusives released and lines for certain exhibitors. The usual lotteries to try and purchase limited releases. Limited releases for certain days and times. They had panels and DJs.
Coverage by Tara, Tracy, V
COPYRIGHT . 2004-1018 All Rights Reserved


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Travel + Leisure just announced the winners of its World's Best Awards, which ranks the planet's best hotels, cities, cruises, and spas.
The magazine asked its readers to vote on hotels around the world, and rank them by categories such as location, service, and food. Each hotel then received an average score out of 100.
This year, the Triple Creek Ranch in Montana took the top spot. But Triple Creek Ranch isn't the only American hotel to make this list; there are 9 U.S. hotels in the top 25 alone.


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February sales tax figures skewed by extra leap year day
April 18, 2012
Steamboat Springs — The city of Steamboat Springs released its final February sales tax receipts this week, but the year-over-year increase of 2.46 percent can be misleading given the leap year.
February 2012 sales tax revenues for the city were $1.76 million, or $60,671 a day for 29 days. Last year, the monthly total was $1.72 million, or $61,327 a day for the 28 days in February 2011. On a per-day basis, this February saw a 1 percent decrease compared with last year.
Following similar logic, the city's year-to-date sales tax numbers are barely behind 2011 figures through the first two months of the year. However, on a strictly numbers basis, revenues are up 0.85 percent this year compared with last.
The relevance of the different calculations depends on what one hopes to glean from the numbers. For city budgeting and spending purposes, the bottom-line revenues are perhaps most important. But for insight into the state of the local economy, the apples-to-apples comparison that takes into account the leap year might be most appropriate.
Building-use taxes continue to lag significantly behind 2011, with the city collecting just $8,124 in February. Last February, the city collected $41,607.
Accommodations tax revenues also are off, though not as noticeably as the building-use tax. City lodging properties collected $94,889 from the 1 percent lodging tax this February compared with $99,016 in February 2011.
Recommended Stories For You
The city's new 0.25 percent sales tax for air service at Yampa Valley Regional Airport brought in $92,468 in February. Year-to-date collections are $177,505.
Other resort communities
Some Colorado mountain resort communities experienced better sales tax growth than Steamboat in February while several others lagged behind.
Snowmass led the way among a group of eight resort communities highlighted in a report released by the city of Steamboat this week. Snowmass saw sales tax receipts increase 17.5 percent in February 2012 compared with February 2011.
Glenwood Springs revenues increased 7.3 percent, and Breckenridge revenues increased 7.2 percent. Aspen jumped 6.65 percent compared with last year. Vail revenues increased 2.1 percent.
Winter Park sales tax revenues dipped 1.5 percent from a year ago, and Crested Butte fell 1.7 percent.
None of the percentages account for the additional day in February 2012.
To reach Brent Boyer, call 970-871-4221 or email bboyer@SteamboatToday.com


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This area is exclusively for members of FOR Cardiff, this is where you can register/request ‘The Card’ and see the 100+ offers available to our members. If you're not sure if you're a member please check here or email us on firstname.lastname@example.org
FOR CARDIFF ASKS VISITORS TO FOLLOW #THEDAFFTRAIL
From Tuesday 26 February, FOR Cardiff will float giant daffodils across the city centre gearing up ahead of St David’s Day on 1 March.
The iconic symbols of Welshness are six metres in diameter and will float up to 60 metres in the sky. They will appear at 15 iconic locations including Cardiff Arms Park, City Hall and Callaghan Square, before the unusual floral display makes a budding finale on St David’s Day.
Each morning #TheDaffTrail will pop up in two surprise locations before heading to their next locations for the afternoon. People will need to be quick to spot them.
Shoppers, businesses and workers can follow #TheDaffTrail map online at www.forcardiff.com to find all 15 locations before St David’s Day on 1 March.
Adrian Field, FOR Cardiff Executive Director said: “FOR Cardiff wanted to ensure this year’s St David’s Day was exceptional after the ‘Beast from the East’ hit Wales last year and called off many St David’s Day celebrations in the city.
“We chose the daffodil because not only is it a culturally significant emblem, but they are colourful and bright – the perfect flower to brighten up the skies. We encourage visitors and residents of Cardiff to follow #TheDaffTrail and explore Cardiff whilst visiting the wonderful shops and restaurants that the city has to offer along the route.”
Jamie Muir, Stadium Manager at Cardiff Blues said: ‘FOR Cardiff approached us because they wanted The Daff Trail to showcase some of the most iconic venues in the city. We very much hope the trail helps visitors celebrate St David’s Day in style.”
#TheDaffTrail begins on Tuesday 26 February and will culminate with a spectacular display on St David’s Day, Friday 1 March.
Follow #TheDaffTrail to keep up with the latest or visit forcardiff.com to download #TheDaffTrail map.


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EUROPE - Institutional investors focused more on prime retail assets in the UK and Germany during H1 this year, two new reports have found.
According to Savills, commercial real estate transactions in Germany were dominated by prime retail acquisitions during the first half of 2011.
In its latest investment report, the real estate agency found that 51% of the €11.03bn deal flow took place in the retail sector during H1, while seven out of the 10 largest transactions involved retail assets.
Oliver Schinkewitz, managing director of investment at Savills Berlin, said: "The investment volume of €5.58bn transacted in Q2 marginally beat the positive result of the first three months of the year. Retail remains the dominant sector."
Retail transactions included the sale of shopping centres in Hamburg and Cologne, as well as the exchange of ownership of various Karstadt department store properties.
Meanwhile, the latest figures from DTZ show that approximately £2.9bn (€3.3bn) in transactions involving UK shopping centres took place during the first half of the year, although more than half of this figure can be attributed to the £1.6bn sale of the Trafford Centre in Manchester in Q1.
According to DTZ's Retail Investment Market Update, high street retail in the UK also saw £343m of transactions over the six-month period, with an additional £110m of deals under offer.
But DTZ said the lack of good-quality, well-let retail assets in the UK was increasing the gap between prime and secondary stock.
In the face of weakened occupational demand, retailer administrations and widespread downsizing, institutional investors have been focusing on prime, with appetite for riskier secondary assets remaining low.
DTZ said secondary assets with the potential for repositioning through active management and capital expenditure were attracting attention from opportunistic buyers, but pricing was proving to be an issue, with yields continuing to rise in this section of the market.
Martin Davis, head of UK markets research at DTZ, said: "The decline in consumer spending and disposable income is impacting the occupational market and is putting pressure on rents payable.
"Ailing retailers looking to downsize are likely to retain their prime locations because they will bring in more money - despite the higher rents.
"Retailers will be able to justify the rental costs because consumer spending in these prime locations is so resilient," he said. "As a result, the rental growth performance of secondary retail assets is deteriorating compared to prime."
Meanwhile, a report on Shopping Centre Stock in Europe published by CB Richard Ellis has shown that a shortage of new shopping centres in Europe restricted the expansion plans of retailers in 2010.
The report also found that new shopping centres earmarked for emerging markets, such as Poland and Turkey, would see a resurgence in retailer expansion going forward.
Nelville Moss, head of EMEA retail research at CBRE, said: "The shopping centre development market in Turkey, for example, has sprung back to life.
"This resurgence activity is due to increased confidence among retailers, developers and investors on the back of the strong economic growth seen in 2010, and the forecast of equally strong growth in 2011."


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Ramadan is set to end this weekend, bringing to a close a very different holy month for those observing the customs and prayers associated with the Islamic calendar.
2020 will be remembered by many Muslims as the year that saw worshippers finding digital platforms to stay in touch with their mosques, downloading spiritual podcasts and enjoying daily iftar inspiration via Instagram.
With Covid-19 social-distancing rules keeping Britain’s observing Muslims away from their friends and families, which brands successfully embraced Ramadan in lockdown? Campaign asked some thought leaders about the best creative work during this period.
Creative strategy director, Mud Orange
Every year, we see brands launch Ramadan efforts that reach the product level in store or online, but fail to create a brand moment around the festive month. So it was great to finally see Tesco embrace Ramadan with their culturally relevant ad "Not quite’ Aunty’s sumac chicken". By taking Ramadan to a brand communication level, Tesco showed their four million-plus Muslim customer base that they understand and value them.
The ad was clever and fresh, as it went straight in for the uniqueness of Ramadan in lockdown in a humorous and fun way. Whether intentional or not, I was impressed with how the ad was written, which pulls away from the laziness that we typically see when brands attempt to engage Muslims. The fact that the ad didn’t feature samosas or a chicken tikka masala was a win for me! Rather, it reflected the relatable lifestyles of Muslims in the UK without reverting to the stereotypes.
However, this approach needs to live throughout the brand’s Ramadan funnel. From advertising, content, aisle design, down to the promotional product selection, there’s more work to be done to actually have substance and effectively connect to their modern Muslim audience.
At Mud Orange, we rolled out a campaign for MyTenNights, a tech-for-good online platform, which gained a massively positive reception for the representation of Muslims and relevancy to their everyday lives during Ramadan. The campaign has been directly attributed to the doubling of the number of donors to 110,000, raising £9m – which during a time when charities are struggling due to Covid has been a massive success.
Vice president, Islamic marketing, Ogilvy
Here’s the question: where were the big brands this Ramadan? There are four million Muslims in the UK, observing a month that is typically about togetherness and socialisation – but under lockdown. Which meant that this was a challenge unlike any other. Perhaps adland needs a wake-up call – this was the time to reach out and acknowledge your Muslim audience.
As it was, we have had Morrisons offering Ramadan and Eid boxes as part of its box-delivery range, plus their usual Ramadan calendars for kids. Asos had a special modest fashion edit featuring influencer Shahd Batal and Eid gift listings have popped up on the likes of Argos, Harvey Nichols and Next, among others. The only big brand to have stepped up in the UK was Tesco with its "Food love stories" featuring a boy gang cooking for themselves during Ramadan in lockdown.
The Muslim Council of Britain’s posters, banners and guidance even before lockdown have given definitive leadership with a human touch, covering everything from advice to mosques to the more recent guidance on how to celebrate Eid during lockdown. They were involved as part of a grassroots movement producing and promoting a "Stay at home" video featured a host of well-known Muslim faces repeating the important message to observe lockdown, ensuring the words would resonate from leaders and influencers facing the same struggles as the audience.
And while the video is low-budget and follows a familiar lockdown format of faces and voices, the short film from counselling charity Muslim Youth Helpline highlighting the "Heroes in headphones" who are upholding the mental health of Muslims during Ramadan lockdown felt important. Ramadan always brings issues of mental health, which Muslim communities are increasingly talking about. But this year in lockdown, this video highlighted that we are fighting to keep both physical and mental health in check, and those taking calls are also heroes that need support.
So, for me, it was the community’s campaigns that won it for me this Ramadan. Wouldn’t it have been great if big brands had stepped in to support them? As Muslims might say, next time, inshallah.
Founder, The Unmistakables
This year, we have welcomed more nuanced thinking from brands when it comes to understanding Muslims at Ramadan – particularly at a time when usual behaviours such as gathering for iftar and prayers is not possible.
Tesco’s adaptation of the "Food love stories" series was delightful. It wasn’t laboured and, to Muslims, it showed the supermarket understood the realities for many people who are fasting right now; and for non-Muslims it wasn’t out of kilter with the wider campaign.
Morrisons' "Ramadan essentials box" was a brilliant piece of innovation. While they could have made more of it through paid media, it’s a good example of marketing going beyond just communicating difference and thinking about product adaptations too.
Facebook’s campaign – providing Ramadan inspiration and advice for brands advertising on the platform – reaches best-practice status. From Ramadan stock photography to insights from Muslim influencers, the hub is extremely well-thought-through and delivered.
Similarly, the BBC’s coverage of stories around Ramadan have been very well-reached and have demonstrated the public broadcaster getting it right when it comes to understanding the nuances of the Muslim market.
The test will now come in whether these brands continue to adapt and target this audience. After all, for many, being a Muslim is for life, not just for Ramadan.


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The much hyped, Freedom 251 smartphone from a less known company named Ringing Bells based in Noida has resumed accepting orders after huge traffic to their website forced them to pause the pre-orders on February 18. However, nothing seems to be working in favour of the company since their website keeps on crashing every second. Sometimes, a blank page is displayed after you select Pay Now button.
Meanwhile, sources associated with Telecom ministry is keeping a close watch over the developments but refused to intervene at this juncture.
The latest trick adopted by Ringing Bells is that you need to have to pay for the smartphone at the time of order placement. The order summary page states that the link for remitting the payment will be emailed to customers within 2 days. However, we are yet to receive a confirmation message via email after order placement even after one hour.
With people trolling Ringing Bells on Twitter with messages that they have ordered 0.5 unit of the smartphone at half the price, the company seems to have rectified the defect. As of writing this, the company has restricted one unit of the smartphone per customer.
The final order summary page was plagued with errors since the term ‘piece’ has been incorrectly stated as ‘peice’. Moreover, we inspected the whois records of the company and came to know that the domain was registered only on February 10, which is 7 days before the event was held in New Delhi.
Even though Ringing Bells claimed that they have invited Manohar Parrikar, Union Defence Minister, he could not attend the event held on February 17. While the company sources reveal that he was unable to attend due to a cabinet meeting, there could a possibility of his staff advising him not to attend since his name will be unnecessarily dragged into the controversy in the case of any foul play in future. However, the veteran leader Mr. Murli Manohar Joshi attended the event.
That being said, the Freedom 251 units distributed to the invites during the event have Adcom logo on it. However, the company has used white paint to conceal the name. Moreover, the rear side of the smartphone bears Indian flag color. On the other hand, few journalists have openly reported that the handset given to them doesn’t work.
Adcom has categorically denied that they are manufacturing Freedom 251 for Ringing Bells. The company revealed that they are in no way associated with Ringing Bells and their legal team will look into the matter concerning the use of their name.
While none of the people ordered the handset on the first day of the pre-order as per reports, we can’t believe the claim of Ringing Bells director Mohit Goel that 30,000 orders were placed on the first day.
Meanwhile, Goel in a statement clarified that the company has nothing to hide and all orders will be fulfilled before the end of June. The company is planning to manufacture 50 lakh units to meet the desire and aspirations of India.
Assuming an upfront payment of Rs. 291 per unit, including shipping charges, the company would manage to fetch Rs. 145,500,0000 if the reports of production of 50 lakh units turned out to be true.
As of writing this, we are able to access the website after several refresh attempts were made but we ended up seeing a blank page instead of the cart. However, we managed to place an order for one unit few hours back but still there is no confirmation email even after 3 hours.
In the meantime, the company has not shared the physical address of their office including the location of their factory where Freedom 251 will be manufactured. There is also a question mark over why the company hasn’t tied up with e-commerce companies like Amazon and Flipkart, who have better infrastructure in place than Ringing Bells.
With people being duped by various emails and SMS messages, security assumes great importance. In the case of Freedom 251, the company will email you the payment link after 48 hours of order placement but there is no assurance as far as security of the payment gateway is concerned. There can be a possibility of having your vital bank details stored on the servers and subsequent phishing. You should not pay if HTTPS protocol and security padlock are missing from your browser.
Freedom 251 is said to feature a 4-inch IPS display, 1.3GHz quad-core processor, 1GB RAM and 8GB internal storage (expandable up to 32GB via microSD card), a 3.2-megapixel primary and a 0.3-megapixel front-facing camera, 1,450mAh battery loaded with Android 5.1 at Rs. 291, which includes shipping cost of Rs. 40 per unit. The company has claimed that it has a service network of over 650 centers across India but refused to divulge the name and locations.
The million dollar question is here why the company has not announced the sale after the manufacture of adequate units of Freedom 251, which will possibly provide trust and credibility among people.
Interestingly, consumers have started to place orders and it remains to be seen whether the company really deliver the product before June end. Otherwise, the promoters will have to face serious consequences ranging from copyright infringement and misuse of Make in India tag.


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This publication features lifestyle stories around cannabis use and experiences, including emerging trends in wellness, travel, food and drink, pop culture, and cannabis-related brands.
ECentralSports targets the emerging premium
on-trend esports and egaming market.
Unparalleled esports and egaming content that speaks to key consumers about trends, news, lifestyle and happenings in the $150 billion market.
Established as the news, lifestyle, and entertainment weekly in Vancouver for 50 years, the Georgia Straight is an integral part of the active urban West Coast lifestyle with over 1.081 million readers per week.
Critic Nathalie Atkinson's screening series about art direction, sets and costume design is going deep into the notorious 1968 drama
Feb 05, 2019
Notoriously hard to break into, Toronto's costume design world is becoming more accessible thanks to a new crop of training programs and workshops
Oct 24, 2018


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Update: The game is indeed coming to EA Access, according to an announcement at during E3.
Original Story: If you are a member of the EA Access on Xbox One, then according to the latest rumors, you will soon be able to play Titanfall on Xbox One for free.
The game will be added to the vault on EA Access if a report on Reddit is to be believed. Just a few days ago the Twitter page of EA Access stated that a new game is coming to the Xbox One exclusive service. It wasn’t revealed which game, but from the looks of it, it’s Titanfall.
However, at the time of this writing the game hasn’t been added to the vault. Let us know if it’s available on your side.
EA Access is available for just $4.99 a month, or $29.99 annually. The service was going to be on PS4 as well, but Sony refused to add it, saying it isn’t a bang for our buck. However, so far the service have proved to be worth our money.
Have anything interesting to add to the story? Let us know in the comments below.


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Venues and businesses prepping their spaces to accept larger groups after Gov. Steve Sisolak eased COVID-19 gathering restrictions must add one more item to their to-do list.
Nevada is substantially loosening its COVID-19 rules on large gatherings for both indoor and outdoor events and will allow for a limited number of spectators at sporting and other live entertainment events as part of a continued relaxation of restrictions.
MGM Resorts and Wynn Resorts have plans to bring back meetings and conventions, major revenue drivers that have been on hold for months.
Planet Hollywood is back in business. It will be a limited reopening: Gaming floors will be open seven days a week, but the hotel will only accept weekend reservations.
Candy store chain It’Sugar filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, citing the COVID-19 pandemic.
While crowds were light, customers and employees applauded the rule change.
The largest Veteran of Foreign Wars post in Nevada has struggled to make ends meet since the state’s bar regulations were enacted because of the pandemic. But officials hope for a turnaround once restrictions are lifted.
Businesses that had to keep bars closed because of COVID-19 are ready to welcome customers, even with requirements on social distancing and masks.
The state’s COVID task force has voted to allow bars and taverns to reopen in Las Vegas and Clark County.
Bars in Washoe County can reopen Wednesday at 11:59 p.m., following announcement of the reopening plan last week.
The Tropicana is ready to reopen its doors for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic reached Nevada.
Springs Preserve, closed to the public since March 16 because of the coronavirus pandemic, will reopen Oct. 1.
Shoppers at Fashion Show mall can now order from their favorite stores and pick up items at the curb without leaving their cars.
Six months ago, the Las Vegas Strip was just a plane ride away. These days, it’s a road trip for gambling.


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We Help Companies Find New Sales Opportunities
E2V Technologies is to sell its non-core businesses to a new company called SGX Sensortech for £15m, including its scientific instruments division in High Wycombe and industrial gas sensing in Chelmsford.
E2V has secured a £6m Regional Growth Fund grant that will create more than 100 jobs at its technology research centre in Chelmsford over the next three years.
E2V Technologies is to relocate its Lincoln-based microwave electronics operation to a former pharmacy warehouse in Sadler Road by the end of the year, securing the future of 50 jobs.
E2V Technologies is to acquire QP Semiconductor, the US supplier of semiconductor components with 90 staff, for an initial £36m.
E2V Technologies is to acquire MiCS MicroChemical Systems, the Swiss semiconductors manufacturer with 24 staff, for £5m.
E2V Technologies is to acquire Atmel Grenoble, the French electronic components supplier with 450 staff, for £76m.
E2V Technologies has acquired Gresham Scientific Instruments, the High Wycombe-based manufacturer of X-ray detectors, for £5.1m.
E2V Technologies has acquired the microwave sensors business of Dynex Semiconductor, which will involve a number of staff relocating from one Lincoln factory to another.


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Washington Post: “Google, Facebook, Apple and other technology companies that try to keep covid-19 disinformation and fraud off their own platforms are enabling their spread through online services, tools and code used by websites that push such content, according to a new report from Oxford University. The 120 websites studied by the Oxford researchers support protests against government health restrictions or spread misleading information about the disease caused by the coronavirus — false cures, fake charities or misleading health advice. These sites use web hosting, ad-tracking services, web development tools and social media links from leading technology companies. Some of the tools are free “widgets” or bits of computer code that allow web designers to expand the capabilities of their sites and are used widely across the Internet, often without the companies that produce them knowing who is deploying them. Several problematic sites, for example, support financial transactions through Apple Pay, use Apple’s affiliate links or enable compatibility with Apple devices such as the iPhone, the Oxford researchers said. Some of the content pushed by the websites using these tools and services probably would not be permitted on platforms run by several of the same top technology companies, including Facebook and Google, whose web tools were “particularly pervasive” on the sites, the report found. These and other companies have worked for months to fight scammers seeking to profit from the pandemic and disinformation that undermines the efforts of public health officials to control it.
- The report, “Profiting from the Pandemic,” published this week by Oxford’s Computational Propaganda Project, suggests that these companies could do more…”


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At the risk of becoming all breastfeeding all the time, I wanted to make one more post about the subject. While there are some who dispute whether studies actually prove the benefits of breastfeeding, rather than just highlight economic and social differences, here are some more for you to think about. This study says that mother’s milk can prevent babies from developing skin allergies.
Natural chemicals, called prebiotics, found in human breast milk may cut babies’ chances of developing skin allergies. ... he babies in Moro’s study were all healthy. But they were at high risk of developing skin allergies, since they had at least one parent diagnosed with allergies, eczema, or asthma. ... Prebiotics are thought to promote the growth of good bacteria in the intestines.
Another study says that exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months can prevent many food-related allergies.
Solid foods of all types should be avoided for the first six months, and certain items—like cow’s milk, eggs, fish, and nuts—should not be introduced until even later, according to a consensus statement on infant feeding released this week by the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).
“It is important to understand that we are talking about exclusive breastfeedingbreastfeeding, with no formula, soy or anything else,” researcher Amal Assa’ad, MD, tells WebMD. “This appears to be important for protecting against allergies.” ... The ACAAI food allergy committee also specifically recommends that—when there is evidence of an increased risk for food allergies—cow’s milk and other dairy products should be avoided for the first year of life; eggs should not be given until at least age 2; and peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and other seafood should be avoided until at least age 3.
Although the foods above are the most likely to trigger allergies, other foods may also pose a risk if introduced too early, the group noted.
Maybe this is one reason why so many kids are developing allergies that no one ever had more than about 20 years ago, like peanut allergies. Perhaps the second-generation of formula-fed babies develop the susceptibility.
Stress, diabetes, and cancer


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Gurpreet, Nancy, Vippin
Things were affordable in Canada before Covid-19 hit the streets. Most of the people were able to afford their needs. Recently inflation rate fell to 5.2% in February 2023 from 5.9% in January. The post-pandemic inflation rate was the highest in the last three decades at almost 7 percent in the last quarter of 2022. If we look at the diagram, the inflation rate back in 1990 was also relatively high, around more than 5.5 percent. That high peak suddenly dwindled to between 1 percent and 2 percent by 1995. Then, it was like a roller coaster but affordable and stayed below 3 percent for the whole time. As the pandemic hit, it started rising and peaked, and this is the highest inflation rate in three decades of history.
If we look at the Trucking Industry, it is the growing industry throughout the last decade and a half. In 2009 it contributed $25.97 Billion to the Canadian economy and gradually increased over time. After five years, in 2014, this Industry contributed $38.65 Billion to the Canadian economy. It decreased slightly to $37.87 billion the following year but again started rising. By the end of 2018, the share of Trucking transportation rose to $39.55 billion. The pandemic hit hard on every sector, and most fleet services have been shut down. This results in less demand for trucks. Trucks in Canada dropped by 6 percent in 2021 from 14,200 units produced in 2022 to 12,500 units manufactured the following year.
In 2019, 372,900 people were employed in Transportation and Transportation and warehousing Industry, making up 5.1 percent of Ontario’s workforce. Out of which 36.3 percent were only used in Truck transportation. Data from the Government of Canada for the year 2021 shows that 36,000 are employed in the Trucking sector in British Columbia. Across the prairies, this Industry employs 70,700 people in three provinces. In Atlantic Canada, 11450 people were used in this business. In the provinces of Northwestern Territory, Yukon and Nunavut, this Industry will hold 2,000, 800, and 400 employees, respectively, in 2021.
The trucking industry is one of Canada's leading employment providers and is crucial for North America. Covid-19 and the pandemic hit hard on this industry, too and also resulted in the inflation rate going higher.


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He said there is a major move towards authenticity and natural ingredients, including more proteins and fiber, and going gluten-free.
"I have seen a lot of snacks being made from pulses, beans, rice and even entirely out of egg whites," Emig told BakeryandSnacks at Snackex, ESA's biannual trade show, held in Vienna, Austria, in June.
In the past, snacking was perceived as an indulgent albeit convenient alternative to traditional meal times and not particularly wholesome.
However, this is changing as the sector answers consumer calls for healthier snacking options.
“Our members are committed to playing their part in helping people to build balanced diets. They are continually investing in order to improve the taste and nutritional quality of their products,” said Emig.
“They also make a difference by promoting healthy diets and lifestyles as part of their consumer communication policy, and by participating and financing national initiatives, sports, education and exercise programmes.”
ESA represents around 200 companies in 40 countries worldwide – thus going beyond the EU.
Ask and you shall receive
According to Market Research Reports, the retail value of the European savory snacks market amounted to over $22bn in 2015, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.8% between 2011 and 2015.
The market researcher noted the trend was towards increased personalization of snacks to provide individual and unique sensory experience.
“Our mission is to look at what consumers expects from the snack industry and make sure we are ahead of the curve before they even ask for it,” said Emig.
“Consumers say they want healthy lives and we need to give them what they want. This involves improving nutritional composition in snacks.”
New production techniques
The industry also has a collective aim to reduce saturated fats and sodium levels in snacks, and has introduced new baking and frying techniques.
“You have entirely new production techniques, too. For example, using only pressure and heat for a popping effect, not only limiting this to the popcorn segment but for all sorts of snacks,” said Emig.
This has presented challenges, he admits.
“Our members have a plethora of questions, such as ‘where can I really make a dent in the market?’; ‘what are my competitors doing?’; ‘where can I position my snacks?’ and ‘on which course should I steer my R$D department?’” said Emig.
“It’s ESA’s job to position the sector to best serve the consumer.”
Pic credit: DepositPhotos/marilyna


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- Who is the richest woman in the world?
- Does Jeff Bezos donate money?
- How much does Jeff Bezos make in a day?
- Who will be the first trillionaire?
- Who made a billion dollars in one day?
- Who is the richest singer in the world?
- Who is a trillionaire 2020?
- How many Trillionaires are there in 2020?
- Who is the richest black person in America?
- Who is No 1 richest person in the world?
- Are there any trillionaires?
- How Much Is Donald Trump net worth?
- How rich is Jeff Bezos facts?
- Who is the youngest billionaire?
- What is Bill Gates worth?
- How much worth is Jeff Bezos?
- Is Jeff Bezos a trillionaire?
- Who is a zillionaire?
Who is the richest woman in the world?
New York (CNN Business) MacKenzie Scott — philanthropist, author and ex-wife of Amazon (AMZN) CEO Jeff Bezos — is now the wealthiest woman in the world.
Scott’s net worth is now $68 billion, propelling her past L’Oréal heiress Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, according to Bloomberg’s Billionaire index..
Does Jeff Bezos donate money?
Bezos has pledged $2 billion, and said he plans to use the charity to support homeless families and launch education programs in underserved communities. The first round of donations, announced in November 2018, went toward organizations supporting homeless families across the US.
How much does Jeff Bezos make in a day?
Breaking the amount down more, Bezos is making about $321 million a day, $13.4 million an hour, $222,884 a minute, and $3,715 a second this year. The largest single-day increase in Bezos’s net worth is $13 billion, which he achieved on July 20, 2020.
Who will be the first trillionaire?
Jeff BezosEven as the coronavirus pandemic rages across the world, the world’s richest are estimated to grow their wealth in the coming years. According to a report, Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos could potentially become the world’s first trillionaire as early as 2026, at which point he will be aged 62, says a study.
Who made a billion dollars in one day?
George SorosGeorge Soros is most famous for a single-day gain of $1 billion on Sept. 16, 1992, which he made by short-selling the British pound.
Who is the richest singer in the world?
These are the top 20 richest singers in the worldGloria Estefan (net worth: $500 million) … Dolly Parton (net worth: $500 million) … Elton John (net worth: $500 million) … Mariah Carey (net worth: $520 million) … Madonna (net worth: $590 million) … Bono (net worth: $700 million) … Paul McCartney (net worth: $1.2 billion)More items…•
Who is a trillionaire 2020?
Jeff BezosAccording to Comparisun, a company which allows small- to medium-sized firms to compare different business products, the world’s first trillionaire will likely be Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos. Their projection shows Bezos reaching trillionaire status by 2026.
How many Trillionaires are there in 2020?
2,095 billionairesAccording to Forbes, as of March 18, 2020 there were 2,095 billionaires worldwide. The total net worth of the world’s billionaires is $8 trillion, $700 billion less than the previous year.
Who is the richest black person in America?
Robert F. Smith1. Investor Robert F. Smith is the richest black man in the country. A Cornell graduate and former Goldman Sachs executive, Smith built his multibillion-dollar fortune running private equity firm Vista Equity Partners, Business Insider previously reported.
Who is No 1 richest person in the world?
Top 10 richest people in the worldJeff Bezos. Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos has a net worth of $188.3 billion and ranks as the richest person on the earth today. … Bernard Arnault & Family. … Bill Gates. … Mark Zuckerberg. … Elon Musk. … Mukesh Ambani. … Warren Buffet. … Larry Ellison.More items…•
Are there any trillionaires?
The world has 46.8 million millionaires, collectively owning $158.3 trillion. On top of this, there are according to Forbes, 2,153 billionaires. … A trillionaire is someone whose wealth is greater than one trillion dollars (or other currency). In numerals, it’s 1,000,000,000,000 and is also known as 10 to the 12th power.
How Much Is Donald Trump net worth?
2.5 billion USD (2020)Donald Trump/Net worth
How rich is Jeff Bezos facts?
As of 2020, Jeff Bezos was the richest person on earth, with his personal fortune eclipsing the wealth amassed by legendary investor Warren Buffet and Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) co-founder Bill Gates. 1 Bezos made the top spot of Forbes magazine’s 2018 400 Richest in America list with a net worth of $160 billion.
Who is the youngest billionaire?
Kylie JennerFor the second year in a row, Kylie Jenner has the title of world’s youngest billionaire. Walmart heir Lukas Walton is the richest billionaire under age 35, with a net worth of $18.4 billion.
What is Bill Gates worth?
119.7 billion USD (2020)Bill Gates/Net worth
How much worth is Jeff Bezos?
182.7 billion USD (2020)Jeff Bezos/Net worth
Is Jeff Bezos a trillionaire?
Jeff Bezos may become the world’s first trillionaire. The Amazon founder’s net worth grew by an average of 34 percent over the last five years, and according to a recent analysis, he is on track to reach trillionaire status by 2026.
Who is a zillionaire?
: an immeasurably wealthy person.


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The most innovative vehicles often are born from desperation. When companies' backs are to the wall, they throw the rulebook out the window and summon their best efforts to create game-changing cars and trucks.
But as car buffs gush over the impact of vehicles inspired by do-or-die situations — from the sleek '49that saved the auto maker from ruin after World War II to 's front-drive minivans of the 1980s and even the recent edgy designs that rescued Cadillac — the role of engines often is ignored.
Henry's 1909 Model T would have gone nowhere if its 20-hp 2.9L 4-cyl. was not easy for shade-tree mechanics to repair and engineered to be manufactured at low cost.
' Cadillac Div. may never have lasted past the 1940s if it were not for its innovative V-8s that started defining the brand in 1915.
And, without its small-block V-8s, GM might never have dominated the second-half of the 20th century.
, which always has made engines central to its brand character, likely would be just another Mercedes wannabe if it were not for its superlative inline-6s.
“The people's car” would have been nobody's car without Ferdinand Porsche's brilliant air-cooled, horizontally opposed 4-cyl. that made theBeetle the most enduring car ever.
Almost overnight,transformed itself in 1975 from a motorcycle maker trying to break into the car business to a global auto maker to be reckoned with when it introduced its Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion (CVCC) 4-cyl. engine that did not need a catalytic converter to meet the U.S.' stringent new emissions standards.
More recently, the modern-day Hemi V-8 arguably reinvigorated— and its bottom line — more than its now-famous 300 sedan.
Then there is's Hybrid Synergy Drive, a powertrain that has transformed the auto maker's image far beyond the automotive and consumer world and permanently changed the discussion about energy and transportation issues.
At the Los Angeles Auto Show, GM Chairman Rick Wagoner announced another big step in vehicle- and company-defining powertrains: a commitment to build a plug-in hybrid-electric vehicle.
Whether PHEVs take off or end up in the same historical scrap heap as steam cars and GM's pure-electric EV-1 remain to be seen.
No matter. GM has to move forward. As vehicles, and the companies that produce them, increasingly are defined by their powertrains, auto makers must continue to invest in innovative engines as if their survival depends on it, because it does.
And we promise to continue to recognize those efforts. Believe it or not, we are not doing this just for fun.


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Industry research shows that most EV drivers charge at home, but range concerns remain a major obstacle for buyers who regularly travel from home, so analysts say public chargers are the way to go. We believe that increasing investment in electric vehicles is also a major driver of EV ownership.
The majority of public chargers are located along the U.S. coast, but a new law facilitated by the Biden administration will provide significant funding for stations to be built in areas where EV penetration is low. Also, the new charger charges much faster than the old one.
S&P Global said, “With $5 billion in electric vehicle charging network funding (and more to come) available under the bipartisan infrastructure law, states are lining up for a major federal contribution. I will.” Another EV-related incentive is provided by the new Inflation Reduction Act.
“The lack of availability of chargers definitely has an impact in the Midwestern states,” says Martin.
Of the states participating in the S&P survey, Wyoming and North Dakota had the lowest EV shares, at virtually 0% for the period January through August. Wyoming had 146 EV sales during this period, and North Dakota had 143.
As a group, EV adoption was low and stagnant among 22 states compared to coastal states.
According to S&P Global, “Heartland accounted for 27.1% of total U.S. auto retail sales through August, but its share of EV adoption has stagnated at a meager share of 15.5% from 2021 to this year.” ‘ said. “Only Colorado and Nevada (and slightly Utah) have a higher overall retail share of EVs.”
The study included Arkansas, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Includes Virginia and Wisconsin.
The largest EV markets are in West Coast metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Seattle, S&P Global said. New York, Washington DC, Miami and Chicago are also in the top ten.
According to the California New Car Dealers Association, Tesla is the second-largest car brand in California, behind Toyota. Ford is his third and Honda his fourth. Battery electric vehicles overall accounted for his 16% of California sales through September.
EV adoption in non-coastal regions still has a long way to go, but some core cities, including Chicago, Las Vegas, Missoula, Montana and Salt Lake City, have made progress this year, according to S&P Global. rice field.
America’s heartland is likely to embrace battery-powered electric vehicles in the same way Asian cars did decades ago. The process begins on the coast of the United States and continues inland.
“BEV adoption is a long-term process that needs to reach an inflection point similar to the adoption or acceptance of Asian-made vehicles in the United States,” said Libby. “That inflection point is when a product becomes generally accepted, and usually occurs when volume and exposure reach levels that affect all reluctant outliers. .”


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Electronic Arts posted another strong quarter to end fiscal 2015, as fourth-quarter results ..... ahead of management's guidance of $0.22 and consensus of $0.26. EA announced its 2016 console release schedule, which contained very few surprises
May 5 (Reuters) - Video game publisher Electronic Arts Inc , known for titles such as "FIFA" and "Madden NFL", posted a 5.5 percent rise in quarterly revenue, helped by growth in its digital business, which includes software distributed through direct downloads.
Electronic Arts posted a strong quarter, as fiscal 2015 ..... as a result of improved cost controls at EA . Non-GAAP net revenue of $1.43 billion ..... repurchase authorization announced in May 2014. EA has only one premier title launch in the
value estimate of $97 a share. Electronic Arts EA 2014 Return: 104.95% | Morningstar ..... Rating: Narrow Video game maker Electronic Arts surprised on the upside in 2014 ..... earns it a narrow moat rating; EA has a nearly 50% market share
Electronic Arts posted a strong fiscal 2015 second quarter as non-GAAP results came in ..... from the $750 million stock-repurchase authorization announced in May. EA will launch two of its premier titles in the third quarter of fiscal 2015
Electronic Arts started fiscal 2015 with a strong first quarter ..... repurchase authorization announced in May. EA announced the delay of two of its premier ..... to make improvements to the games. Given EA 's history of rushing to release games on
Electronic Arts reported fourth-quarter results that were ..... gaming sales grew 6% to $115 million. EA remains the leading publisher for the new ..... This was a solid fiscal year close for EA as it manages the transition to new consoles
Today's conference is being recorded. If you have any objections, you may disconnect at this time. Thank you. Welcome to EA 's fiscal 2014 fourth quarter earnings call. With me on the call today are Andrew Wilson, our CEO and Blake Jorgensen, our
55.1%, a 3-yr high. Risks – poor execution of Fed tapering , dysfunction in the DC . The videogame maker Electronic Arts [ EA ] is attractive but its valuations are getting stretched and the revenue growth has stalled. For the week , Dow
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Video game publisher Electronic Arts said on Thursday it halted development on upcoming projects of its "Battlefield 4" game to fix technical problems that have plagued the...


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July 26, 2014 - 12:38 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Apple has made another acquisition, one that it is using to boost its e-books effort and “beat Amazon at its own game.” It has bought BookLamp, a startup based out of Boise, Idaho, that developed big data-style book analytics services, TechCrunch reports.
A source said Apple bought BookLamp’s employees and technology for a price that was “higher than $10 million, and lower than $15 million.”
BookLamp’s most well-known product was the Book Genome Project, a platform that let users find suggestions for books to read based on natural language analysis of other titles.
BookLamp’s tech and talent could help Apple improve its iBooks service with better recommendations, search, and categorization, TechCrunch says.
BookLamp’s public-facing product was designed to scan the writing style of books the users like and suggest novels or authors with a similar feel. It could also break down plot themes and content, allowing for better search-ability and discovery. One source suggested that Apple bought BookLamp to power an ebook search competitor to Amazon, according to TechCrunch.


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Plastipak Packaging will significantly expand its Garland, TX manufacturing operation later this year. The Michigan-based company is a major producer and supplier of plastic bottles to internationally-branded companies such as Dr. Pepper, PepsiCo, Kraft Heinz and Procter & Gamble. The $10 million investment will expand Plastipak’s production facility and add six new jobs to the company’s current workforce of 273 positions over the next three years.
Plastipak’s main plant has been in continuous operation in Garland since 1996. The expansion of the nearly 400,000-square-foot production facility will support current and future business needs primarily through enhanced machinery and equipment. Plastipak also maintains nearly 500,000 square feet of additional space at two other Garland locations that are primarily dedicated to warehousing and distribution of locally-produced products.
“We opened our Garland facility over 20 years ago to be close to our customers,” said Scott Ratzman, Regional Operations Manager at Plastipak Packaging. “The operational support that we’ve received from the City, Garland Power & Light and the local community college for our various training needs have been terrific.”
Plastipak Packaging celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. Over the past half century, the company has amassed over 700 U.S. patents for technological advances in improving both operations and products. It is one of the largest global food-grade producers of recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) in the world, and employs more than 6,000 employees at over 60 production sites on five continents.
“Plastipak has been solidly growing in Garland for well over 20 years and we are very excited to see them expand their operations yet again,” said David Gwin, Director of Economic Development at the City of Garland. “The plastics sector in the city has experienced tremendous growth over the past few years to the point that it is now one of our largest local industries.”
Garland’s plastics industry cluster includes VPET USA, Inteplast Group, Bway Corporation, and Lesso America. VPET USA, a California-based company, opened its 170,000-square-foot Garland facility in 2015.
Garland has seen a number of sizable expansions across several key industries recently as well. Nutribiotech USA, a South Korean nutritional supplement manufacturer, announced a $100 million expansion of its U.S. headquarters in Garland last year, and Digital Realty, the world’s largest full scale data center operator, will be expanding with a $400 million addition to its $1 billion data center campus. Further, Germany’s Kirchhoff Automotive just approved a $20 million expansion of its Garland operation to better fabricate automotive components for several of General Motors’ Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac products.
Relocating or Expanding Your Business In Texas
Considering Texas for your company’s relocation or expansion project? Check out Business Facilities’ Texas Incentives and Workforce Development Guide.


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Donald Trump Elected: How Will U.S. Trade Fare?
U.S. voters had their say yesterday, and they elected Donald Trump the 45th president of the United States in a sweeping victory.
World markets plummeted on the news, with stocks from London and Frankfurt to China and Japan nosediving. The Dow futures took a better than five-percent skid, prompting an automatic cessation of trading. Traders and investors unloaded oil, Mexican pesos, and U.S. dollars. The Japanese yen soared against the dollar.
Then, Trump came out to speak, and struck a conciliatory note, absent the usual bombast of his campaign appearances. The markets responded accordingly, recovering some of their losses, although they remained in the red.
How will U.S. international trade fare under President Trump? It depends on whether his actions match his words on the campaign trail.
During the campaign, Trump said he would renegoatiate the North American Free Trade Agreement between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. He vowed to impose extrordinary taxes on imports from Mexico and punitive tariffs on imports from China, with the potential to spark a trade war between the world’s two biggest economies. China is the U.S.’s fourth largest export market, behind only Canada, Mexico, and the European Union.
If Trump’s deeds match his rhetoric, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TTP) and the Transatlatic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) were killed in action last night. Trump has also been highly critical of the World Trade Organization.
The president-elect advocated reshuffling security relationships with America’s closest allies in Europe and Asia, relationships that are intimately tied to U.S. trade with those countries and regions.
Once he assumes office, Trump—and the advisors who have his ear—ought to consider the important and growing role that trade has played in the U.S. economy.
According to the World Bank, trade comprised nine percent of U.S. gross domestic product in 1960. In 2015 that number stood at 28 percent. According to numbers from the Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, exports contributed to 13.5 percent of U.S. GDP in 2013.
The U.S. exports over $2.3 trillion of goods and services, with merchandize exports making up the lion’s share of those. U.S. exports grew by 96 percent between 2004 and 2013. The total value of U.S. trade amounted to $5 trillion in 2013.
Exports supported 11.3 million jobs in 2013, and every billion dollars of U.S. exports supports 5,600 jobs.
Over 300,000 U.S. companies export goods and 98 percent of them are small- and medium-sized enterprises—companies with fewer than 500 employees. SMEs account for one-third of total U.S. export value.
Almost half of all U.S. goods exports in 2015—for a total of $710 billion—went to countries with which the United States has a trade agreement. Over 70 percent of those exports—valued at $516 billion—went to U.S. NAFTA partners Canada and Mexico.
In 14 states, over 55 percent of exports went to free trade partners, including states like Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin, states that—surprisingly to the pundits—put Trump over the top in the election.
Trump won, presumably, by appealing to workers who feel that trade and globalization have left them behind. But trade has also produced millions of new jobs—for manufacturing workers and truckers and port personnel—everyone from one end of the supply chain to the other who play a role in producing goods and seeing that they get to their ultimate destinations, and that includes jobs generated by imports to the U.S., and there are many of them as well. Imports also provide benefits to U.S. consumers—especially lower income ones—allowing them to buy less-expensive goods from abroad.
U.S. exports have generated billions of dollars in value for entrepreneurs and shareholders. Without vibrant and welcoming export markets, U.S. businesses cannot succeed the way they have in recent years.
President-elect Trump won the election, at least in part, by appealing to the anger and frustration of those who want to blow up the system, including the international trade system. Once he succeeds to power in January, he really shouldn’t do that.
Peter Buxbaum is web editor of Global Trade.


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That time of the month is here and the Xbox One is receiving some serious updates this time around which are designed to streamline the experience between the Windows 10 Xbox app and the console. Not only that, but the update also brings new features like Miracast support.
Here’s a list of all the features coming to the console soon:
- Over-the-air TV for the U.S. and Canada – Earlier this month, we announced the preview for an Over-the-Air Tuner for the U.S. and Canada.
- Power on and off from Xbox One SmartGlass – The beta versions of the Xbox One SmartGlass apps for Windows, Windows Phone and Android will be updated to let you turn your Xbox One on and off.
- Wireless Display app – Try the Wireless Display app to cast photos stored on your phone to your Xbox One, or to stream non-protected video content from your PC to your Xbox.
- User-selectable power mode – Select your preferred power mode, either Instant-on or Energy-saving mode.
- Voice messages – The ability to send and receive voice messages from the Xbox One messages app continues in preview this month.
Unfortunately, there's no mention of the game-streaming feature that allows playing Xbox games on PCs. Of course, the biggest addition that is coming is the support for Miracast streaming, or as Microsoft calls it, the Wireless Display app. This should make streaming content to your Xbox One a lot easier, and accessible from many more devices.
Some of these features are already available to preview members, but the rest will likely launch some time after BUILD.
Make sure to also check out the slew of updates coming to the Xbox App on Windows 10.
Source: Xbox Wire
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Janhvi no more 'price conscious'
Actress Janhvi Kapoor was recently clicked wearing a dupatta with a price tag on it.
Actress Janhvi Kapoor was recently clicked wearing a dupatta with a price tag on it. Netizens were quick to spot the fashion faux pas and crack jokes about it.
In a video posted on Instagram, Janhvi was seen wearing a salwar suit with a dupatta. The camera followed her till her car. At one point, when she turned around, the price tag could be seen on the dupatta.
The comments section is full of people writing on her dupatta's price tag. "tag ..bhul gyi nikalna," one wrote.
Another wrote: "Did she or her stylist rob that suit from a shop? It has that sensor wala thing attached to dupatta."
"Myntra return will not pick it up if it doesn't have tag... that's y," a user wrote in jest.
Myntra was quick to respond. A comment was posted on behalf of the fashion e-commerce company on Wednesday.
It read: "Flag it, tag it, bag it. Clothes returned without a tag are as good as rag! We don't wanna brag, but if you follow the steps, your return will be without a snag!"


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Trade agreements take away sovereignty
We had laws that required Country of Origin Labeling, COOL, on our food, supported by around 90 percent of Americans. Foreign companies in Canada and Mexico believed they lost business because Americans could choose to eat food from our own country over imported food. Foreign companies were able to sue us in the World Trade Organization because of our NAFTA and GATT trade agreements. The World Trade Organization ruled that COOL was illegal restraint of trade and imposed a penalty on us of a billion dollars every month that we kept this law.
Very recently, Congress passed a bill a provision to remove the COOL law to “fix” this problem.
Soon Congress will also decide about another trade agreement, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, TPP, that allows more foreign companies to sue our country if they even think our laws could possibly hurt their profits.
Americans should be aware that Congress is allowing our country to lose its sovereignty in trade agreements, the media doesn't cover it. That means we can't rule ourselves and our democracy is stolen. Foreign companies are sovereign over this country due to trade agreements and WTO courts. Don't let this happen, our senators and representatives should be told that the TPP is unacceptable to us.
— Sandy Easter, Des Moines


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Keeping Spirits Bright and Merry in Downtown
Downtown Rock Springs is where the holiday fun and shopping begins.
The second annual Plaid Friday will take place on Friday, November 27. Shoppers can kick off the holiday season with free giveaways and great specials throughout Downtown. One hundred plaid bags will be handed out at Escape Day Spa, 420 Broadway Street, 9 am. Some of them will have valuable gift certificates.
Small Business Saturday is Saturday, November 28. Watch for free giveaways and specials. The first 100 shoppers in the door at Mack and Co Boutique, 623 Pilot Butte Avenue, at 11 am will receive a special Christmas stocking filled with goodies and a gift certificate.
For unique gifts, go to the Christmas Gift Show on Friday, November 27 and Saturday, November 28, 10 am to 4 pm in Bunning Hall, 603 South Main Street.
“Don’t forget, Downtown has gifts for nearly everyone on your list,” Chad Banks, URA Manager said. Support your own, shop at home.
This year, the Rock Springs Main Street/Urban Renewal Agency would like shoppers to take the Mayor’s Challenge – pledge to support local businesses at least five times during the holiday season, either by purchasing gifts, dining or participating in local holiday events.
“Out of every dollar spent in a local business, sixty-eight cents will be returned to our community,” Banks shared. “It fuels our local economies and contributes to more vibrant neighborhoods.”
Be on the look-out for ole’ St. Nick in Downtown Rock Springs. Santa will be traveling from the North Pole soon. His weekly visits will be at a new location this year, the gazebo (at the corner of D Street and Broadway Street), Saturdays, November 28 to December 19. 11 am to 2 pm. This event is sponsored by Escape 307 Rock Springs.
Join friends and neighbors for the annual Mayor’s Tree Lighting, Saturday, December 5, 5 pm at Cannon Park (at the intersection of Grant and Elk Street).
Bundle up and take the family to the Lighted Holiday Parade, Saturday, December 5, 5:30 pm in Downtown Rock Springs.
New to Downtown Rock Springs this holiday season is Llamas. They will be ready to greet locals and visitors on December 5 and December 12, 11 am to 2 pm on South Main Street.
Watch performers from around the community smile, dance and pose. The Living Windows is on Saturday, December 12, 11 am to 2 pm at participating businesses in Downtown.
Get ready for a live holiday performance at the Broadway Theater. Bar J Wranglers is coming back on Saturday, December 12, 7 pm.
Keep your PJ’s on and enjoy Polar Express at the Broadway Theater, Friday, December 18, 6 pm and Saturday, December 19, 2 pm. These showings are sponsored by Infinity Power and Controls and WyoRadio.
Participants are advised to practice social distancing and wear masks during all local events.
For more information, call 307-352-1434 or visit the organization’s website DowntownRS.com.The Rock Springs Main Street/Urban Renewal Agency is charged with the redevelopment of downtown Rock Springs. As part of their mission, there are three standing committees – Business Development, Promotions and Arts and Culture. For more information on the program, contact the Rock Springs Main Street/Urban Renewal Agency at 307-352-1434 or visit their website at downtownrs.com


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Around 2.1 million households are behind on essential payments such as a household bill, loan or credit card payment, new research by Which? has found.
According to Which’s latest Consumer Insight Tracker, more than half of households – 55% – have made changes to cover essential spending as they continue to battle with increased financial pressures.
This has included cutting back on essentials, dipping into savings, selling possessions or borrowing
It represents a noticeable increase against the 44% seen two years ago.
One person surveyed said: “Food in particular is getting more expensive every time I shop. I have been supplementing my income with savings, but my savings are dwindling.”
The research added that eight out of 10 of those who think their household finances will worsen also feel negatively about the future of the economy.
A vast majority of those who felt pessimistic about their household prices said they think fuel prices and food bills will increase.
More than half of Britons also expect the economy to worsen over the next 12 months, Which? added.
One female respondent in her sixties said: “Bills for utilities are all rising, the cost of food is getting higher, as is the cost of fuel, and just about everything else.”
Rocio Concha, Which? director of policy and advocacy, said: “As so many people face financial hardship, Which? is calling on businesses in essential sectors like food, energy and telecoms providers to do more to help customers get a good deal and avoid unnecessary or unfair costs and charges during this crisis.”


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WASHINGTON, Dec 2 (Reuters) – General Motors (GM.N) and LG Energy Solution (373220.KS) said Friday they are investing another $275 million in their Tennessee joint venture battery cell plant to increase production by more than 40%.
The new investment in the Ultium Cells Spring Hill plant will boost battery output from an annual capacity of 35 gigawatt-hours to 50 GWh, when the plant is operational in late 2023. It is one of at least four U.S. joint venture battery plants planned to supply GM electric vehicles as the largest U.S. automaker ramps up EV production.
The new investment follows $2.3 billion announced in April 2021 and will add another 400 jobs. The factory will employ 1,700 workers when fully operational.
The first Ultium joint venture plant in Warren, Ohio began production in August. Workers next week at the $2.3 billion Ohio plant will vote whether to unionize after the United Auto Workers (UAW) petitioned to represent about 900 workers.
Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Cynthia Osterman
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


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ISSA Advocacy Weekly Recap—August 30, 2019August 30, 2019
Welcome to the ISSA Advocacy Weekly Recap! This is ISSA’s regular roundup of the latest public policy-related issues impacting the cleaning industry.
Judge Invalidates NYSDEC Household Cleansing Product Information Disclosure Program
In a joint statement responding to the New York State Supreme Court’s decision, Melissa Hockstad, president and CEO of ACI, and Steve Caldeira, president and CEO of HCPA, said: “For more than two years, industry stakeholders came to the table in New York with clear and reasonable concerns and a readiness to collaborate to arrive at a responsible solution. While the goal is to establish a federal law for ingredient communication, we hope this decision will prompt the New York State Department of Environmental Conversation (NYSDEC) to work with us on a comprehensive, collaborative, and transparent policy that is in alignment with other states, such as California.”
Is Your Company Well-Positioned to Manage Risks Associated with Relocating Supply Chains?
According to GreenBiz, “Companies invest a significant amount of time and money to establish and maintain a secure supply chain, and over the long term such investment typically results in fewer production disruptions and reduces a company’s exposure to regulatory, social, and environmental and reputational risks, among others.” Sebastien Breteau, CEO of QIMA, explained that “Quickly relocating supply chains intensifies risks related to child labor, human trafficking, environmental violations, and dangerous working conditions.”
Tariff Uncertainty is Even Worse Than the Tariffs Themselves
Importers of products say that the uncertainty of trade policy is the hardest part for them to manage. According to Forbes, “Many of these companies work six or nine months out and trying to plan that far in advance is virtually impossible given the constantly changing directives.” Uncertainty about trade policy affects “how many people they will hire, the amount of product they sell, and the sales taxes associated with that rate of sale and their capital spending,” which are all “factors that have the potential to drive the country into recession.”
Canada’s New Workplace Harassment Law Comes into Effect September 1
According to the Financial Post, multiple amendments to the Canada Labor Code (CLC) will be taking effect on September 1, and will directly impact the 18,000 federally regulated employers and 900,000 employees governed by the legislation. “‘The workplace harassment regulations will be the real game-changers for many employers who will have to completely reassess how they manage harassment and violence in the workplace,” says Bill Hlibchuk, an employment and labor law lawyer at Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP.
Other links of interest:


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Hellman & Friedman has nearly trebled its investment in DoubleClick with the sale of the digital marketing firm to Google for $3.1 billion (€2.3 billion).
The San Francisco-based private equity firm, alongside San Diego-based venture firm JMI Capital, took DoubleClick private in 2005. The two firms paid $1.1 billion for the company, or $8.50 per share of outstanding NASDAQ-listed stock, which represented a 10.6 percent premium. DoubleClick had $135 million in debt outstanding at the time.
Following the take-private deal, DoubleClick – which specialises in online advertising, search engine and affiliate marketing, email marketing, database marketing, and data management – underwent some significant restructuring. Its chief executive stepped down, and a new board of directors and chairman were appointed.
“When we acquired DoubleClick in July 2005, we saw an opportunity to partner with a great management team to further enhance the company’s capabilities and growth trajectory,” said Philip Hammarskjold, managing director of Hellman & Friedman, in a statement.
Hellman & Friedman’s $3.1 billion deal with Google is subject to customary closing conditions, and is expected to close by the end of the year.
The 23-year old private equity firm is currently investing its $8 billion sixth fund.


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Darkest Dungeon II releases on May 8
After releasing to an early access state exclusively on the Epic Games Store in 2021, developer Red Hook will finally be releasing the 1.0 update for Darkest Dungeon II on May 8, 2023 - for both Epic Games Store and Steam for PC.
As a celebration of the upcoming release, Red Hook has released a new limited-time demo for the game, for the duration of the currently ongoing Steam Next Fest; available from February 6 through 13. On February 7 the Creative Director Chris Bourassa and Design Director Tyler Sigman will host a live stream Q&A, while the next day on February 8 the developers plan to host a live stream showing off gameplay from the upcoming 1.0 release.
Our livestream schedule:
February 7th at 11am PT: Sit down for a Q&A with Creative Director Chris Bourassa and Design Director Tyler Sigman. They’ll be taking your questions on all things Darkest Dungeon II!
February 8th at 1pm PT: Darkest Dungeon II Gameplay livestream! Meet members of the Red Hook team and see what’s in store on this roguelike road trip of the damned!


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UPS Announces Expansion in Horry County
Oct 28th, 2019
For Immediate Release
October 22, 2019
Horry County to Benefit from UPS Expansion in North Myrtle Beach
Project will create 50 new jobs in the area
NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC – The Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corporation confirmed United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS) the world’s largest package delivery company and a leading global provider of specialized transportation and logistics services, is planning to expand operations in Horry County. The proposed project will create more than 50 new jobs over the next five years.
Already a partner in the local community, UPS plans to construct the new package delivery center off of Water Tower Road in North Myrtle Beach. The facility will significantly increase UPS’s delivery fleet serving Horry County, one of the fastest growing regions in the United States. Operations are expected to be online in the latter part of 2020. UPS will also maintain the current package delivery center in Myrtle Beach.
UPS is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including transporting packages and freight; facilitating international trade, and deploying advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. UPS employ more than 5,700 people across South Carolina.
“Having such a recognized company expand in our state is a credit to South Carolina’s positive business climate and workforce. Congratulations to UPS and we look forward to the company’s continued success.”– SC Secretary of Commerce, Bobby Hitt
“The expansion of UPS is another awesome win for Horry County. UPS has proven that Horry County is a great place to do business, provide growth and employ qualified workers. UPS is a highly reputable company in Horry County, and we look forward to seeing their success continue. On behalf of the Horry County Council, staff and residents, congratulations on your growth and we are thankful you are a part of Team Horry.” – Horry County Council Chairman, Johnny Gardner
“On behalf of the entire MBREDC Board, staff and partners, I would like to thank UPS for choosing Horry County for their expansion. UPS is a strong leader in our community, and this solidifies their commitment to our area. It takes a team to assist companies in finding a new home for their future and I am thankful for the team work from Horry County, City of North Myrtle Beach, Grand Strand Water & Sewer, Santee Cooper, HTC and many partners for their assistance with this project. We look forward to working with UPS for many years to come.” – MBREDC Chairman, Neyle Wilson
“We are excited that UPS is locating its $11 million package operations in our city. This is the first commercial addition to the Parkway Group area of our city west of the Waterway. It offers 50 full time jobs with above average wages. This is good for our city and good for our county.” – City of NMB Mayor, Marilyn Hatley
FIVE FAST FACTS
- UPS is planning to build a new facility in the City of North Myrtle Beach in Horry County.
- The company is committed to investing more than $11 million to the project and creating 50 new jobs over the next five years.
- UPS will also maintain the current facility in Myrtle Beach.
- The facility will increase UPS’s delivery fleet serving Myrtle Beach and Horry County, one of the fastest growing regions in the United States.
- The new facility is scheduled to be operational in late 2020.
The MBREDC is a public‐private partnership that works closely with new and existing industries, site selectors, and economic development professionals to promote economic growth in Horry County. Since January of 2012, the MBREDC has announced over 2,000 new jobs including announcements in advanced manufacturing, aerospace, back-office support, health-care, and technology-related businesses. For more information, visit www.mbredc.org.
President & CEO
Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corporation


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Consumer groups use National Mac 'n Cheese day to focus on phthalates in food
One of America's favorite comfort foods is the target of a new movement to eliminate certain chemicals known as phthalates.
Phthalates are industrial chemicals used to soften plastics. They can be found in all sorts of products- from vinyl flooring, to detergents to food and beverage storage containers and even cosmetics.
Phthalates are banned in kids' products because their particles can be ingested, and pose a potential health risk.
But the particles can also get into processed foods. So, a coalition of consumer groups commissioned lab tests on block, shredded and powdered cheeses, for National Mac and Cheese day.
The Coalition for Safer Food Processing says it intentionally targeted the a quintessential kid food favorite.
"Almost everybody eats mac 'n cheese, and often from a box." said Erika Schreder, science director for Toxic Free Future in Seattle.
The coalition of consumer advocate groups is concerned about cheese powders that help turn plain macaroni into creamy, cheesy goodness.
Safety advocates say the independent lab tests revealed phthalates in every boxed macaroni and cheese brand they tested.
"And we know that phthalates have a serious health impact." said Schreder. "They can block the production of testosterone, which of course is so important in boys' reproductive development."
Schreder says the coalitions tests found the phthalate levels in boxed mac and cheese were four times higher than those found in block cheeses, because cheese powders are more processed.
The group believes the lion's share of phthalates are migrating into the powder from the processing equipment. And while the concern involves all boxed macaroni and cheese products, consumer advocates chose National Mac and Cheese Day to target food manufacturer Kraft.
"Kraft is a leader in making mac and cheese and making cheese products of all kinds." Schreder explained. "And Kraft can be a leader in getting phthalates out of its products."
But Kraft takes issue with both the research, and the suggestion that its mac and cheese poses any health risk.
In an email statement, the company's corporate affairs division said:
"We do not add phthalates to our products. The trace amounts that were reported in this limited study are more than 1,000 times lower than levels that scientific authorities have identified as acceptable. Our products are safe for consumers to enjoy."
The consumer groups say the independent lab tests involved 30 cheese products from various manufacturers, including 10 different varieties of boxed macaroni and cheese.
They point out that phthalates can migrate into any food during processing and while they don't expect us to give up mac 'n cheese, we should all try to limit how much processed food we eat.


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Just because miners want power doesn’t mean they get it. Some inquiries are withdrawn. And all three county public utilities have considerable discretion when it comes to granting power requests. But by law, they must consider any legitimate request for power, which has meant doing costly studies and holding hearings—sparking a prolonged, public debate over this new industry’s impact on the basin’s power economy. There are concerns about the huge costs of new substations, transmission wires and other infrastructure necessary to accommodate these massive loads. In Douglas County, where the bulk of the new mining projects are going in, a brand new 84-megawatt substation that should have been adequate for the next 30 to 50 years of normal population growth was fully subscribed in less than a year.
Many also fear that the new mines will suck up so much of the power surplus that is currently exported that local rates will have to rise. In fact, miners’ appetite for power is growing so rapidly that the three counties have instituted surcharges for extra infrastructure, and there is talk of moratoriums on new mines. There is also talk of something that would have been inconceivable just a few years ago: buying power from outside suppliers. That could mean the end of decades of ultracheap power—all for a new, highly volatile sector that some worry may not be around long anyway. Indeed, one big fear, says Dennis Bolz, a Chelan County Public Utility commissioner, is that a prolonged price collapse will cause miners to abandon the basin—and leave ratepayers with “an infrastructure that may or may not have a use.”
Bitcoin, the first cryptocurrency ever created has indeed become the most widely used digital currency on earth. Ever since the existence of Bitcoin in 2009, it has witnessed unprecedented growth across the world. The reason for its worldwide acceptance is no other than its ability to changed the way transactions are conducted in many electronic platforms. Conventionally, electronic card transactions take approximately three business days to get confirmation. On the other hand, Bitcoin transactions take few minutes to be confirmed on the blockchain.
While senders of traditional electronic payments are usually identified (for verification purposes, and to comply with anti-money laundering and other legislation), users of bitcoin in theory operate in semi-anonymity. Since there is no central "validator," users do not need to identify themselves when sending bitcoin to another user. When a transaction request is submitted, the protocol checks all previous transactions to confirm that the sender has the necessary bitcoin as well as the authority to send them. The system does not need to know his or her identity.
Bitcoin is the first cryptocurrency, a concept that was discussed in the late 90s. The first Bitcoin specification and proof of concept was published in 2009 in a cryptography mailing list. The concept was presented by a person or group known as Satoshi Nakamoto. The real identity of Nakamoto has been a mystery since that time, with various theories on who the individual or group may be.
In the meantime, the basin’s miners are at full steam ahead. Salcido says he’ll have 42 megawatts running by the end of the year and 150 megawatts by 2020. Carlson says his next step after his current build-out of 60 megawatts will be “in the hundreds” of megawatts. Over the next five years, his company plans to raise $5 billion in capital to build 2,000 megawatts—two gigawatts—of additional mining capacity. But that won’t all be in the basin, he says. Carlson says he and others will soon be scaling up so rapidly that, for farsighted miners, the Mid-Columbia Basin effectively is already maxed out, in part because the counties simply can’t build out power lines and infrastructure fast enough. “So we have to go site hunting across the US & Canada,” Carlson told me in a text. “I’m on my way to Quebec on Monday.” As in oil or gold, prospectors never stop—they just move on.
Regulatory Risk: Bitcoins are a rival to government currency and may be used for black market transactions, money laundering, illegal activities or tax evasion. As a result, governments may seek to regulate, restrict or ban the use and sale of bitcoins, and some already have. Others are coming up with various rules. For example, in 2015, the New York State Department of Financial Services finalized regulations that would require companies dealing with the buy, sell, transfer or storage of bitcoins to record the identity of customers, have a compliance officer and maintain capital reserves. The transactions worth $10,000 or more will have to be recorded and reported.
The EU and May are lying. We could very easily have Canada +++ without Northern Ireland being in any Customs Union handcuffs. The trade between NI and RoI is very small (2016: NI to RoI £4bn, RoI to NI £1.5bn). This could easily be managed with e.g. pre-border checks, trusted trader / exporter licences, existing Customs / police intelligence against smuggling and crime. It's all just a big excuse to stop us being free to trade with the world, compete with the EU on taxing and pricing etc, and make the best of Leaving. They had better come back with UK +++ very soon, or it's No deal / WTO. Lying traitor May must GO.
From a widespread adoption standpoint: for the typical consumer, Bitcoin is technically challenging and cumbersome to use for the inexperienced. They also forfeit the consumer protections afforded by traditional credit and debt cards. Merchants already have incentive to accept it in the form of reduced fees for accepting payments over typical payment processors.
Jump up ^ Beikverdi, A.; Song, J. (June 2015). "Trend of centralization in Bitcoin's distributed network". 2015 IEEE/ACIS 16th International Conference on Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Networking and Parallel/Distributed Computing (SNPD): 1–6. doi:10.1109/SNPD.2015.7176229. ISBN 978-1-4799-8676-7. Archived from the original on 26 January 2018.
The price of bitcoins has gone through cycles of appreciation and depreciation referred to by some as bubbles and busts. In 2011, the value of one bitcoin rapidly rose from about US$0.30 to US$32 before returning to US$2. In the latter half of 2012 and during the 2012–13 Cypriot financial crisis, the bitcoin price began to rise, reaching a high of US$266 on 10 April 2013, before crashing to around US$50. On 29 November 2013, the cost of one bitcoin rose to a peak of US$1,242. In 2014, the price fell sharply, and as of April remained depressed at little more than half 2013 prices. As of August 2014 it was under US$600. During their time as bitcoin developers, Gavin Andresen and Mike Hearn warned that bubbles may occur.
Bitcoin mining is a peer-to-peer process of adding data into Bitcoin’s public ledger in order to verify and secure a contract. Groups of recorded transactions are gathered in blocks and then added into the Bitcoin blockchain. Bitcoin mining requires a lot of resources to protect the network from the possibility of altering past transaction data by making all attempts in changing blocks inefficient for the intruder. Bitcoin mining is rewarded by the network through transaction fees and subsidies of new coins to encourage miners to spend their resources on mining new Bitcoin blocks. As Bitcoin mining is increasingly difficult, it has become impossible to attempt mining as an individual. As a result, most Bitcoin mining is being done by mining pools, which include several participants sharing their reward. Bitcoin mining is controversial, as it is a great tool for securing transactions but complicating the scaling of the network.
Bitcoin mining operations take a lot of effort and power, and the sheer amount of competition makes it difficult for newcomers to enter the race and profit. A new miner would not only need to have adequate computing power and the knowledge to use it to outcompete the competition, but would also need the extensive amount of capital necessary to fund the operations.
Security Risk: Bitcoin exchanges are entirely digital and, as with any virtual system, are at risk from hackers, malware and operational glitches. If a thief gains access to a Bitcoin owner's computer hard drive and steals his private encryption key, he could transfer the stolen Bitcoins to another account. (Users can prevent this only if bitcoins are stored on a computer which is not connected to the internet, or else by choosing to use a paper wallet – printing out the Bitcoin private keys and addresses, and not keeping them on a computer at all.) Hackers can also target Bitcoin exchanges, gaining access to thousands of accounts and digital wallets where bitcoins are stored. One especially notorious hacking incident took place in 2014, when Mt. Gox, a Bitcoin exchange in Japan, was forced to close down after millions of dollars worth of bitcoins were stolen.
What separated these survivors from the quitters and the double-downers, Carlson concluded, was simply the price of electricity. Survivors either lived in or had moved to places like China or Iceland or Venezuela, where electricity was cheap enough for bitcoin to be profitable. Carlson knew that if he could find a place where the power wasn’t just cheap, but really cheap, he’d be able to mine bitcoin both profitably and on an industrial scale.
The influx in malware led some online companies to implement protective measures for their users. Google announced in a blog post in April that it would no longer allow browser extensions in its Web Store that mine cryptocurrencies. The online store allows for users to pick extensions and apps that personalize their Chrome web browser, but the company noted that the “capabilities have attracted malicious software developers who attempt to abuse the platform at the expense of users.”
If fewer people begin to accept Bitcoin as a currency, these digital units may lose value and could become worthless. There is already plenty of competition, and though Bitcoin has a huge lead over the other 100-odd digital currencies that have sprung up, thanks to its brand recognition and venture capital money, a technological break-through in the form of a better virtual coin is always a threat.
Bitcoin (BTC) is known as the first open-source, peer-to-peer, digital cryptocurrency that was developed and released by a group of unknown independent programmers named Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008. Cryptocoin doesn’t have any centralized server used for its issuing, transactions and storing, as it uses a distributed network public database technology named blockchain, which requires an electronic signature and is supported by a proof-of-work protocol to provide the security and legitimacy of money transactions. The issuing of Bitcoin is done by users with mining capabilities and is limited to 21 million coins. Currently, Bitcoin’s market cap surpasses $138 billion and this is the most popular kind of digital currency. Buying and selling cryptocurrency is available through special Bitcoin exchange platforms or ATMs.
But not everyone is going along for the ride. Back in East Wenatchee, Miehe is giving me an impromptu tour of the epicenter of the basin’s boom. We drive out to the industrial park by the regional airport, where the Douglas County Port Authority has created a kind of mining zone. We roll past Carlson’s construction site, which is swarming with equipment and men. Not far away, we can see a cluster of maybe two dozen cargo containers that Salcido has converted into mines, with transformers and cooling systems. Across the highway, near the new, already-tapped out substation, Salcido has another crew working a much larger mine. “A year ago, none of this was here,” Miehe says. “This road wasn’t here.”
As the world first 28nm BTC and LTC chip maker, Innosilicon selects Genesis Ming as partner in cloud mining industry business for its integrity, excellent customer oriented service and great user interface design. Genesis Mining is the best in class mining service that is supported by our technologically superior mining hardware. This unique synergy produces the best experience for those interested in mining and we look forward to having a long and prosperous relationship.
Mining is the process of adding transaction records to Bitcoin's public ledger of past transactions (and a "mining rig" is a colloquial metaphor for a single computer system that performs the necessary computations for "mining". This ledger of past transactions is called the block chain as it is a chain of blocks. The blockchain serves to confirm transactions to the rest of the network as having taken place. Bitcoin nodes use the blockchain to distinguish legitimate Bitcoin transactions from attempts to re-spend coins that have already been spent elsewhere.
Bitcoin mining is a competitive endeavor. An "arms race" has been observed through the various hashing technologies that have been used to mine bitcoins: basic CPUs, high-end GPUs common in many gaming computers, FPGAs and ASICs all have been used, each reducing the profitability of the less-specialized technology. Bitcoin-specific ASICs are now the primary method of mining bitcoin and have surpassed GPU speed by as much as 300 fold. As bitcoins have become more difficult to mine, computer hardware manufacturing companies have seen an increase in sales of high-end ASIC products.
As more and more miners competed for the limited supply of blocks, individuals found that they were working for months without finding a block and receiving any reward for their mining efforts. This made mining something of a gamble. To address the variance in their income miners started organizing themselves into pools so that they could share rewards more evenly. See Pooled mining and Comparison of mining pools.
Behind the scenes, the Bitcoin network is sharing a massive public ledger called the "block chain". This ledger contains every transaction ever processed which enables a user's computer to verify the validity of each transaction. The authenticity of each transaction is protected by digital signatures corresponding to the sending addresses therefore allowing all users to have full control over sending bitcoins.
Shipping containers make for a quick way to set up an industrial bitcoin mining operation, but the servers inside produce so much heat that large fans are needed to move incredible volumes of air at high velocity in order to keep them overheating. At top, workers have attached ducts to the hot exhaust, carrying it over to melt the frozen worksite and warm their lounge area. | Patrick Cavan Brown for Politico Magazine
The receiver of the first bitcoin transaction was cypherpunk Hal Finney, who created the first reusable proof-of-work system (RPOW) in 2004. Finney downloaded the bitcoin software on its release date, and on 12 January 2009 received ten bitcoins from Nakamoto. Other early cypherpunk supporters were creators of bitcoin predecessors: Wei Dai, creator of b-money, and Nick Szabo, creator of bit gold. In 2010, the first known commercial transaction using bitcoin occurred when programmer Laszlo Hanyecz bought two Papa John's pizzas for 10,000 bitcoin.